Low profile staple and methods for using same
According to particular embodiments, the present staple includes a low-profile bridge and has the capacity for high sustained compression. In some embodiments, the staple includes a bridge with a continuous cross-section, legs with teeth cut therein (e.g., opposed to protruding from, as discussed herein), and legs including an angle of about 24 degrees.
1. A staple comprising:
a bridge bottom surface comprising:
a first edge, a second edge, and a bridge width therebetween;
a first end and a second end; and
a centerline running between the first end and the second end and bisecting the bridge width; and
two legs, each comprising:
a proximal end;
a distal end comprising a bone penetrating feature;
a length between the proximal end and the distal end of between 8 mm to 20 mm;
an inner surface comprising a plurality of wedge-shaped teeth cut into the inner surface at a first depth of between 0.30 mm and 60 mm;
an outer surface opposite the inner surface;
a front surface orthogonal to the inner surface and the outer surface;
a back surface opposite the front surface; and
a rectangular cross-section defined by:
a width between the inner surface and the outer surface of between 1.5 mm and 2.0 mm; and
a second depth between the front surface and the back surface, wherein:
the rectangular cross-section comprises a midpoint of the width and the second depth;
the midpoint of each of the two legs is coupled to the bridge bottom surface along the centerline;
the staple is configured to be positioned in a strained position and an unstrained position; and
the two legs are at an acute angle when the staple is in the unstrained position.
2. The staple of claim 1 , wherein the acute angle is 24 degrees when the staple is in the unstrained position.
3. The staple of claim 2 , wherein the staple further comprises curved transitions from the bridge bottom surface to the inner surface of each of the two legs.
4. The staple of claim 3 , wherein each of the plurality of wedge-shaped teeth are cut into the inner surface at an angle.
5. The staple of claim 4 , wherein the angle is 60 degrees.
6. The staple of claim 4 , wherein the angle varies for two or more of the plurality of wedge-shaped teeth.
7. The staple of claim 4 , wherein:
the inner surface of each of the two legs defines a plane; and
an end of each of the plurality of wedge-shaped teeth is in the plane.
8. A staple comprising:
a bridge bottom surface comprising:
a first edge, a second edge, and a bridge width therebetween;
a first end and a second end; and
a centerline running between the first end and the second end and bisecting the bridge width; and
two legs, each comprising:
a proximal end;
a distal end comprising a bone penetrating feature;
an inner surface comprising a plurality of wedge-shaped teeth cut into the inner surface at a first depth of between 0.30 mm and 60 mm;
an outer surface opposite the inner surface;
a front surface orthogonal to the inner surface and the outer surface;
a back surface opposite the front surface; and
a rectangular cross-section defined by:
a width between the inner surface and the outer surface of between 1.5 mm and 2.0 mm; and
a second depth between the front surface and the back surface, wherein:
the rectangular cross-section comprises a midpoint of the width and the second depth;
the midpoint of each of the two legs is coupled to the bridge bottom surface along the centerline; and
the two legs are parallel when the staple is in a strained position.
9. The staple of claim 8 , wherein:
the staple is configured to be positioned in the strained position and an unstrained position; and
the two legs are at an acute angle in the unstrained position.
10. The staple of claim 9 , wherein the acute angle is 24 degrees when the staple is in the unstrained position.
11. The staple of claim 10 , wherein the staple further comprises curved transitions from the bridge bottom surface to the inner surface of each of the two legs.
12. The staple of claim 11 , wherein the staple further comprises a length of 8 mm to 20 mm between the proximal end and the distal end of each of the two legs.
13. The staple of claim 12 , wherein each of the plurality of wedge-shaped teeth are cut into the inner surface at an angle.
14. The staple of claim 13 , wherein the angle is 60 degrees.
15. The staple of claim 13 , wherein the angle varies for two or more of the plurality of wedge-shaped teeth.
16. The staple of claim 13 , wherein:
the inner surface of each of the two legs defines a plane; and
an end of each of the plurality of wedge-shaped teeth is in the plane.
17. A method comprising:
inserting a staple into tissue of a patient, wherein:
the staple comprises:
a bridge bottom surface comprising:
a first edge, a second edge, and a bridge width therebetween;
a first end and a second end; and
a centerline running between the first end and the second end and bisecting the bridge width; and
two legs, each comprising:
a proximal end;
a distal end comprising a bone penetrating feature;
a length between the proximal end and the distal end of between 8 mm to 20 mm;
an inner surface comprising a plurality of wedge-shaped teeth cut into the inner surface at a first depth of between 0.30 mm and 60 mm;
an outer surface opposite the inner surface;
a front surface orthogonal to the inner surface and the outer surface;
a back surface opposite the front surface; and
a rectangular cross-section defined by:
a width between the inner surface and the outer surface of between 1.5 mm and 2.0 mm; and
a second depth between the front surface and the back surface;
the rectangular cross-section comprises a midpoint of the width and the second depth;
the midpoint of each of the two legs is coupled to the bridge bottom surface along the centerline;
the staple is configured to be positioned in a strained position and an unstrained position;
the two legs are at an acute angle when the staple is in the unstrained position; and
causing the staple to transition from the strained position to the unstrained position, thereby compressing the tissue of the patient.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein each of the plurality of wedge-shaped teeth are cut into the inner surface at an angle.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein:
the inner surface of each of the two legs defines a plane; and
an end of each of the plurality of wedge-shaped teeth is in the plane.